{ big day around here }

We are celebrating Samme's 5th Birthday today! AND....

Henry's final adoption hearing was this morning...he's officially ours forever!

We are so darn lucky to have them in our lives...

{ happy spring }

Happy spring! Wow, I thought the winter blues and bad news would never end...but after a weekend in the sunny desert; being on the mend after never-ending colds; flowers blooming in the garden....I'm beginning to feel like ME again!

This spring season is all about renewal, self-care and blooming to ME. It's a great time to re-evaluate by taking a good look in the mirror...have you been slacking with regards to your health and happiness edges? Be honest. I know I have (which is why I've been on my self-imposed internet break). Perhaps it's time to shed a few pounds? Commit to healthier eating? Align your heart and mind with some sweaty exercise? What about planting a garden? I'm been inspired by all of the great home gardens featured in this month's Sunset Magazine as well as our very own First Lady.

Remember, we can't control what is going on in the world around us, but we can control how we react to it, how we spend our time & energy and what we do to make our homes happy havens. I'm still on my blogging hiatus but I'll be back in a few weeks. { ps - thanks for all of your well wishes, sweet notes and even lovely flowers - thanks tracie! you're all so sweet ~ }

{ in need of a break }

I'm checking in to let you know I'm checking out (before I end up in the loony bin). I've been here, but I haven't posted much because things have just been, well, kind of a busy mess. I'm going through an official rough patch right now. I feel tired and a bit off. I'm sick of winter and all I want to do is sleep. Not my usual self at all. I am working non-stop. And because I consider it my job to aim to inspire, organize and be healthy, fit & sane, I wasn't sure I wanted to write when feeling less than inspired myself. I'm deeply saddened by news that a childhood friend and young mom I know was just diagnosed with brain cancer. There is some family drama that popped up that has stressed me out. There's been loads and loads of work and not enough time with the kids...with biz #1's first race of the season coming up and biz #2 having all sorts of press and subsequent orders and business #3 about to launch, I've been working day & night despite my best intentions. All the talk about the recession is freaking me out. All of the blogging, twittering, facebooking - I'm over it. It's all just too much.

But these are all important reminders about how much I have to be grateful for. And I am doing my best to remind myself of that.

I'm happy to report that hitting the yoga mat has helped. The feeling that spring is right around the corner has helped. Date night with my hubby last night and dinner with friends helped. Knowing that my body is now cancer-free has helped. And the big smiles on my kids faces even on the busiest of days always helps lift ME up.

I'm trying to remember that each day is a whole new day to try to get it right. A new day where I can focus on what really matters and gracefully let the rest go. I love this quote - "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with high a spirit."

Join me this weekend by planning the week ahead. Plan ahead in order to make the best choices for ourselves, our bodies and our time. To put what matters most above what matters least. I vow to not over-commit myself or my family. I vow to say no more often to the things that don't matter. I vow to practice loving kindness to others. I vow to fuel my body with healthy foods, cut and wash my veggies ahead of time, have my green smoothie ingredients already in separate bags ready to dump in the blender each morning, stick with my meal plan and make double batches of some healthy things, soak my soy beans ahead of time, get out my running shoes, hug my kids so much they get annoyed with me, burn some candles, play some music and dance with the family, and go for a very long and quiet hike by myself… and touch my toes each morning... and pray too.

I'll be back soon friends, once my batteries are re-charged.

Print from here.

{ cookie love }

Cookie Magazine love for our Pack ME notepad here.

{ my officemate }

{ i'm too busy flirting with my new officemate to get anything else done....
he's pretty quiet and mellow. he likes to listen to jack johnson on pandora while we work.
he giggles when we spin in my chair. he likes to take walks at lunch.
he sometimes dozes off at the desk and drools on my keyboard.
he likes to watch oprah on the couch with me during his afternoon snack.
he's pretty much perfect. }